IIA 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. J. RES. 20 

Authorizing the limited use of the United States Armed Forces in support 

of the NATO mission in Libya. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 21 (legislative day, JUNE 16), 2011 

Mr. KERRY (for himself, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. KYL, Mr. DURBIN, 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. 

CARDIN, and Mr. KIRK) introduced the following joint resolution; which 

was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

JOINT RESOLUTION 

Authorizing the limited use of the United States Armed 

Forces in support of the NATO mission in Libya. 

Whereas peaceful demonstrations that began in Libya, inspired by similar movements in Tunisia, Egypt, and elsewhere in the Middle East, quickly spread to cities around 

the country, calling for greater political reform, opportunity, justice, and the rule of law. 

Whereas Muammar Qaddafi, his sons, and forces loyal to 

them responded to the peaceful demonstrations by authorizing and initiating violence against civilian non-combatants in Libya, including the use of airpower and foreign mercenaries; 


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Whereas, on February 25, 2011, President Barack Obama 

imposed unilateral economic sanctions on, and froze the 

assets of, Muammar Qaddafi and his family, as well as 

the Government of Libya and its agencies to hold the 

Qaddafi regime accountable for its continued use of violence against unarmed civilians and its human rights 

abuses and to safeguard the assets of the people of 

Libya; 

Whereas, on February 26, 2011, the United Nations Security 

Council passed Resolution 1970, which mandates international economic sanctions and an arms embargo; 

Whereas, in response to Qaddafi’s assault on civilians in 

Libya, a ‘‘no-fly zone’’ in Libya was called for by the 

Gulf Cooperation Council on March 7, 2011; by the head 

of the Organization of the Islamic Conference on March 

8, 2011; and by the Arab League on March 12, 2011; 

Whereas Qaddafi’s advancing forces, after recapturing cities 

in eastern Libya that had been liberated by the Libyan 

opposition, were preparing to attack Benghazi, a city of 

700,000 people and the seat of the opposition government in Libya, the Interim Transitional National Council; 

Whereas Qaddafi stated that he would show ‘‘no mercy’’ to 

his opponents in Benghazi, and that his forces would go 

‘‘door to door’’ to find and kill dissidents; 

Whereas, on March 17, 2011, the United Nations Security 

Council passed Resolution 1973, which mandates ‘‘all 

necessary measures’’ to protect civilians in Libya, implement a ‘‘no-fly zone’’, and enforce an arms embargo 

against the Qaddafi regime; 


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Whereas President Obama notified key congressional leaders 

in a meeting at the White House on March 18, 2011, of 

his intent to begin targeted military operations in Libya 

and made clear that the United States ‘‘is not going to 

deploy ground troops into Libya’’; 

Whereas the United States Armed Forces, together with coalition partners, launched Operation Odyssey Dawn in 

Libya on March 19, 2011, to protect civilians in Libya 

from immediate danger and enforce an arms embargo 

and a ‘‘no-fly zone’’; 

Whereas, on March 28, 2011, President Obama stated, 

‘‘America has an important strategic interest in preventing Qaddafi from overrunning those who oppose him. 

A massacre would have driven thousands of additional 

refugees across Libya’s borders, putting enormous strains 

on the peaceful—yet fragile—transitions in Egypt and 

Tunisia. The democratic impulses that are dawning 

across the region would be eclipsed by the darkest form 

of dictatorship, as repressive leaders concluded that violence is the best strategy to cling to power . . . So while 

I will never minimize the costs involved in military action, 

I am convinced that a failure to act in Libya would have 

carried a far greater price for America.’’; 

Whereas, on March 31, 2011, the United States transferred 

authority for Operation Odyssey Dawn in Libya to 

NATO command, with the mission continuing as Operation Unified Protector; 

Whereas, in a letter to joint bipartisan congressional leaders 

on May 20, 2011, President Obama expressed support 

for a Senate resolution on the use of force in Libya and 

stated that, ‘‘Since April 4, U.S. participation has consisted of: (1) non-kinetic support to the NATO-led operVerDate Mar 15 2010 23:28 Jun 21, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SJ20.IS SJ20

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ation, including intelligence, logistical support, and 

search and rescue assistance (2) aircraft that have assisted in the suppression and destruction of air defenses 

in support of the no-fly zone and (3) since April 23, precision strikes by unmanned aerial vehicles against a limited set of clearly defined targets in support of the 

NATO-led coalition’s efforts.’’; and 

Whereas, on June 9, 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 

recognized the Transitional National Council ‘‘as the legitimate interlocutor for the Libyan people during this interim period.’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

4 It is the sense of Congress that— 

5 (1) the men and women of the United States 

6 Armed Forces and coalition partners who are en7 gaged in military operations to protect the people of 

8 Libya have demonstrated extraordinary bravery and 

9 should be commended; 

10 (2) the United States Government should con11 tinue to support the aspirations of the people of 

12 Libya for political reform and self-government based 

13 on democratic and human rights; 

14 (3) the goal of United States policy in Libya, 

15 as stated by the President, is to achieve the depar16 ture from power of Muammar Qaddafi and his fam17 ily, including through the use of diplomatic and ecoVerDate Mar 15 2010 23:28 Jun 21, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SJ20.IS SJ20

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1 nomic pressure, so that a peaceful transition can 

2 begin to an inclusive government that ensures free3 dom, opportunity, and justice for the people of 

4 Libya; and 

5 (4) the funds of the Qaddafi regime that have 

6 been frozen by the United States should be returned 

7 to the people of Libya for their benefit, including hu8 manitarian and reconstruction assistance, and the 

9 President should explore the possibility with the 

10 Transitional National Council of using some of such 

11 funds to reimburse NATO countries for expenses in12 curred in Operation Odyssey Dawn and Operation 

13 Unified Protector. 

14 SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR THE LIMITED USE OF UNITED 

15 STATES ARMED FORCES IN LIBYA. 

16 (a) AUTHORITY.—The President is authorized to con17 tinue the limited use of the United States Armed Forces 

18 in Libya, in support of United States national security pol19 icy interests, as part of the NATO mission to enforce 

20 United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 (2011) 

21 as requested by the Transitional National Council, the 

22 Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Arab League. 

23 (b) EXPIRATION OF AUTHORITY.—The authorization 

24 for such limited use of United States Armed Forces in 


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1 Libya expires one year after the date of the enactment 

2 of this joint resolution. 

3 SEC. 3. OPPOSITION TO THE USE OF UNITED STATES 

4 GROUND TROOPS. 

5 Consistent with the policy and statements of the 

6 President, Congress does not support deploying, estab7 lishing, or maintaining the presence of units and members 

8 of the United States Armed Forces on the ground in Libya 

9 unless the purpose of the presence is limited to the imme10 diate personal defense of United States Government offi11 cials (including diplomatic representatives) or to rescuing 

12 members of NATO forces from imminent danger. 

13 SEC. 4. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 

14 The President shall consult frequently with Congress 

15 regarding United States efforts in Libya, including by pro16 viding regular briefings and reports as requested, and re17 sponding to inquiries promptly. Such briefings and reports 

18 shall include the following elements: 

19 (1) An updated description of United States na20 tional security interests in Libya. 

21 (2) An updated statement of United States pol22 icy objectives in Libya, both during and after 

23 Qaddafi’s rule, and a detailed plan to achieve them. 


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1 (3) An updated and comprehensive list of the 

2 activities of the United States Armed Forces in 

3 Libya. 

4 (4) An updated and detailed assessment of the 

5 groups in Libya that are opposed to the Qaddafi re6 gime, including potential successor governments. 

7 (5) A full and updated explanation of the Presi8 dent’s legal and constitutional rationale for con9 ducting military operations in Libya consistent with 

10 the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et 

11 seq.). 

Æ 


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